Overview
- Sen. Tom Cotton said the operation is expected to run for weeks and will systematically target Iran’s missiles, launchers and production sites.
- U.S. and Israeli officials said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is presumed dead, and Cotton described Iran’s succession outlook as uncertain.
- Iran launched retaliatory missile barrages, with Israel reporting at least six dead and Abu Dhabi reporting one death, as Iranian state media cited at least 200 killed inside Iran.
- U.S. Central Command confirmed three American service members were killed during Operation Epic Fury.
- Cotton said the White House plans no large-scale ground invasion, as Congress readies War Powers debates and Republican support largely holds despite some libertarian dissent.